The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-10-20
HIS FIRST LOVE.

HIS FIRST LOVE.
There was a strip of pine woods
along the Saltwater Turnpike. just be-
fore you came to Martin Leayer's farm
house. And it had the reputation of
being the darkest piece Of road at
night in the country.
That was the reason Mile Leaver,
who was obliged to drive to the vii
lage nearly every afternoon. always
made it a point, if possible, to get
through these woods before sunset.
But upon this particular June day
she had fingered at shop to select
ribbons and feather for her last
summers bonnet, which she was max
ing with her own ever-busy hands.
1t takes a deal of time to pick out
such tribes, especially when one has
only a half-sovereign with which to
pay for them.
Hence, the sun was sinking behind
western clOud-bank before Mile drove
the sorrel horse and rusty wagon out
upon the lonely road.
81 don't care: Pm not one bit
afraid" Mile declared. as the little
horse, which was far from being
marvel of f1eetness, ambled home
ward.
She began to hum lively air, and
fell to debating with herself whether
the lighter shade of blue would not
have been more becoming to her
blonde prettiness than the dark which
she had chosen.
miss Tucker will exchange them
for me tomorrow if Idecide to take
the light" she finally decided.
AID hoxyin1 Of fha
temporarily, she was at liberty to
notice how very, very dark it was
growing.
The sun had gone from view entire
| ly, and the cloud-bank was overspread-
ing the whole horizon. And just
ahead was the strip of pines, through
which the narrow road led its dark,
sinuous course.
"Do go faster. Billy-can't your"
she implored.
She made an Intellectual attempt to
/ apply the short, worn out whip-in-
effectual because in her nervous haste,
| it slipped from her hand and fell
under the wagon. She would hardly
have stopped to recover it then had it
been made of gold.
Billy was deplorably safe animal,
to say the least. He had no fear Of
going through the Leaver woods upon
the darkest night ever made. His
nerves were proof against the appar-
| ition of white rocks at the roadside,
locomotive whistles, and the whole
| catalogue of equine terrors. Nothing
| could Induce him to break into a run.
His best speed was a measured amble.
go, goi-Billyi" the girl kept cry
ing, in the hope of arousing the animal
| from his chronic aDathV
1t was of no use. The clouds rose
and thickened, and the wooded aisles
were pervaded by midnight gloom.
A gusty breeze sprang up, soughing
solemnlv through the tree-tops. and
the distant mutterIng of thunder por
tended a summer storm.
81 can surely reach home before il
rains" Mile assured herself.
And to brace up her waning cour
age, she began humming again.
Then, as if to show what helples:
creature she could be in the hands o.
a perverse fate, something about the
harness went ''twang," and Billy came
to dead halt.
AZ wonder if it is one of the trace.
or a hold-backr Mile exclaimed
peering over the dashboard.
But she could see absolutely nothing
save Billy's uncouth outlines.
Something must have given way
And-oh, dear, don't dare to get ou
to find out the trouble?'
i just then she beheld the figure of {
, man stalk forth from the deeper shad
ows of the trees-a tall man, whC
carried something over his shoulder
that might have been a gun, anC
whose heavy boots made a dumping
sound as he advanced to the side o
the wagon and peered up at thu
shrinking occupant.
''Eh, young ladyr' he exclaimed
and he took off his broad-brimmeC
straw hat, adding, in deferentia
ton; 81 beg pardon, really, but wa
about to request ride as far as thu
next house. Didn't think of it being
'.N-no!" Millie faltered, for she wa.
: trembling like an aspen leaf.
3 I'm Paul Bronson, the civil en-
, gineer who is surveying for the new
, railway line, and I'm peaceably dis
posed" he explained. They said
could find board at one MartiI
Leaver's, first house beyond the stril
} of woods. 1t"
{ al am Mr.. Leaver's daughter" Mill,
interrupted, her heart giving a grea
; throb of relief.
Then, if you don't mind, I'll shar'
the wagon-seat with you. for see
t is made for two," and the audaeiou
Mr.. Bronson planted one heavy boo
. on the step.
mo, no.? cried Mile.
He drew back, staring at her in sur
prise at the decisive repulse.
Something about the harness ha
broken" she rapidly explained, no
: wishing him to think her ungraciou
even for a moment
"Oh!"
He hastily investigated, and theI
said, as he complacently mounted tn
/ high seat:
"A hold back unhitched-that is all
Drive along, if you please! Rather darl
! along here-isn't il, Miss LeaverP
'.Im not very timid," said Mile
courageously.
81 should say not, if you are in tn
; l hoI ,SS f,fH 1-ixr